Nigeria tightens anti-homosexual law

The Nigerian senate has passed a bill banning same-sex marriages, defying a threat from Britainto withhold aid from nations violating gay rights.
The bill by Africa’s most populous nation calls for a 14-year sentence for anyone convicted of homosexuality. Anyone who aids or “abets” same-sex unions faces 10 years in prison, a provision that could target rights groups.
It goes to the nation’s House of Representatives for a vote before President Goodluck Jonathan can sign it into law.
“It would place a wide range of people at risk of criminal sanctions, including human rights defenders and anyone else — including friends, families and colleagues — who stands up for the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender people in Nigeria,” Amnesty International said in a statement.
The bill passed Tuesday comes nearly a month after British prime minister, David Cameron, threatened to withhold aid from nations violating gays rights, sparking outrage in Africa where leaders interpreted it as “colonial” display of power.
“This is something we raise continually and … we’re also saying that British aid should have more strings attached in terms of ‘do you persecute people for their faith or their Christianity or do you persecute people for their sexuality?” Cameron said in a statement.
“We don’t think that’s acceptable. So look, this is an issue where we want movement, we’re pushing for movement, we’re prepared to put some money behind what we believe.”
Soon after his remarks earlier this month, a flurry of African governments released defiant statements accusing him of undermining their sovereignty and culture.
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, known for his anti-gay rhetoric, called the prime minister “satanic” for demanding gay rights.
“Do not get tempted into that (homosexuality) madness. You are young people. If you go that direction, we will punish you severely,” state media quoted him as saying. “It is condemned by nature. It is condemned by insects and that is why I have said they are worse than pigs and dogs.”
Mugabe’s comments were the latest in a series of strident remarks by African leaders.
Ugandan government spokesman Fred Opolot described Cameron’s remarks as “patronizing, colonial rhetoric,” saying the nation is busy expanding its oil sector to reduce its reliance on aid.
“We are working hard to limit our reliance on foreign governments for this reason,” he said. “Statements like the one Cameron is making are false. Our cultural norms and values don’t accept homosexuality, but there is no policy against gay people.”
In 2009, a Ugandan lawmaker introduced a proposal calling for execution of people convicted of homosexuality. The proposal sparked an international outcry and threats from some European countries to cut aid to the nation, which relies on millions of dollars from foreign nations.
Opolot said the proposal was the opinion of a sole lawmaker and did not reflect the government view. The legislation was eventually shelved, but regularly pops up in parliament and remains a simmering issue.
Ghanaian President John Atta Mills, a major western ally, applauded the benefits of foreign aid, but said the nation will not accept money that will undermine its interest.
“I will never initiate or support any attempt to legalize homosexuality in Ghana,” he told journalists this month, according to state media. “As government we will abide by the principles as contained in our Constitution, which is supreme.”
Tanzanian officials decried the remarks, saying they “can lead to broken relations” between the two nations.